King County applies for Phase 2 of Safe Start recovery plan

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Dow Constantine
King County Executive
King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci submitted an application to the state Department of Health to move King County to Phase 2 of the Safe Start recovery plan following approval of the plan by the King County Board of Health.

“After two weeks in what has been called Phase 1.5, our case counts, health care system capacity and other metrics are holding steady, and we are ready to move to Phase 2,” said Executive Constantine. 
“But make no mistake – successful economic recovery will depend on everyone in King County carefully following the recommendations of our Public Health experts, including wearing face coverings and avoiding unnecessary contacts, so together we can keep re-opening our community while holding the line on the pandemic.”

Under Phase 2, businesses can operate at twice the indoor capacity permitted in the modified Phase 1, provided they meet all re-opening requirements set out by the state’s guidance. Businesses with questions about their operation can also call the Public Health Business Compliance Line at 206-296-1608.

Read more...

Back online: T-Mobile voice and text restored after 11 hours

Starting just after 9am PST and continuing throughout the day, T-Mobile experienced a voice and text issue that intermittently impacted customers in markets across the U.S.

Fire and police were concerned because residents were unable to call 911. The county issued a list of the regular phone number to call to access the dispatch center for each city.

T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert explained that "This is an IP traffic related issue that has created significant capacity issues in the network core throughout the day. Data services have been working throughout the day and customers have been using services like FaceTime, iMessage, Google Meet, Google Duo, Zoom, Skype and others to connect. 
"I can assure you that we have hundreds of our engineers and vendor partner staff working to resolve this issue and our team will be working through the night as needed to get the network fully operational."

At 10pm PST T-Mobile announced that all services were restored. "We again apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience."



Read more...

Shoreline Veterans Association held ceremony for Flag Day and Army birthday



Photos by Steven H. Robinson

The Shoreline Veterans Association ( SVA) held a private Commemoration of National U. S. Flag Day, and the U. S. Army's 246th Birthday at the Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza at Shoreline City Hall at 9am on Sunday, June 14, 2020.


 
The brief but respectful ceremony also recognized two local area veterans who have recently passed. 
  • 1LT Dwight Stevens, U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII B-17 Pilot
  • SSGT Tom Hamilton, U.S. Air Force, Korea and Vietnam era 


Wreaths were laid over their named bricks at the plaza. 


A volley of three shots was fired.


The bugler played Taps.



The ceremony included presentation of the flags for each branch of service, singing of patriotic songs and playing recorded patriotic music. The first section of the History of  the U.S. Flag was read, followed by a portion of the History of  the U.S. Flag  Day and flag history, care and etiquette.




Read more...

Sno-King School Retirees award renewable scholarship to Shorecrest student

Piper Rosman awarded scholarship from
Sno-King School Retirees

This year one of the four $2,000 renewable scholarships awarded by Sno-King School Retirees was received by a Shoreline School District senior. 

These scholarships are for seniors who are planning to be an educator upon their college graduation.

WWU will be the future school for Piper Rosman from Shorecrest HS. Piper’s goal is a degree in Early Childhood Education with a career goal of being an elementary teacher. 

At Shorecrest, Piper has been in many clubs, student government and athletics. She has participated in volleyball, basketball, lacrosse and track-and-field, while being a member of Environmental and Interact Club.

Outside of school, her volunteer work has mainly been through the Campfire Organization. Piper has run a babysitting business for years, and for the past year she has worked at a daycare where she gets firsthand experience working with children.


 

Read more...

Almost COVID - Experimental theatre production class at Shoreline Community College


The Experimental Theatre Production is a class (Drama 234) at Shoreline Community College.

In this class, participants will be creating a fictional documentary based off their experiences (real or imagined) occurring during the time of the Covid pandemic. 

This would not just be limited to experiences dealing with a pandemic itself, but could include any of the historical events taking place, such as the demonstrations for Black Lives Matter, police reform, etc. 

The material used would be originally written monologues and/or scenes, that would be developed, and then rehearsed and performed by student actors. 

These pieces would be filmed and edited into a documentary style production. So the class would be made up of actors, writers, and those who want to work on the technical end of the production. Instructor Bryar Golden will be directing and producing the production.

Register for Shoreline Community College's Experimental Theatre Production class but first obtain permission of the instructor, Bryar Golden egolden@shoreline.edu

Admission by permission of instructor:
  • Filmed auditions files and writing submissions should be sent to Bryar Golden: egolden@shoreline.edu
  • Assistant Director: Position for assistant director available.
  • Tech/editing positions: Also available.
  • Actors: To audition you will need to send a self-taped, 1-2 minute, monologue.
  • Writers: Drafts of original monologues and scenes can be sent to Bryar Golden egolden@shoreline.edu.

Deadline August 1.



Read more...

CORRECTION: SR 522 BRT program is Thursday


CORRECTION: The original headline said Tuesday. The program is on Thursday.

Original story:

The Bothell Library is hosting an online program with Sound Transit about Sound Transit's plans and upcoming work on State Route 522 in Bothell, Kenmore and Lake Forest Park.

"The 411 on 522", next Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 3pm, will discuss planning and changes to lanes on SR 522 / Bothell Way.

Anyone can ask questions ahead of time even if they don't want to join the program live.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes will ultimately be eight miles long and include 13 stations. 

What will this mean for residents, businesses and commuters along SR 522? Join Paul Cornish, Sound Transit's Director of Bus Rapid Transit in an online webinar to learn more.

Your questions are welcome in advance, so please share them even if you can't attend the webinar. Post questions at IdeaBoardz or directly to the speaker at paul.cornish@soundtransit.org

You may join the meeting starting at 2:50pm. The link is HERE  This is a 'listen only' presentation.

Event number (access code): 133 035 9615
Event password: this event does not require a password.

If you need help, detailed instructions are HERE



Read more...

Juneteenth: Ijeoma Oluo in conversation with Ahamefule Oluo

Juneteenth: Ijeoma Oluo in conversation with Ahamefule Oluo
Wednesday, June 17, 7pm-8:30pm online

Register online to join Ijeoma Oluo in conversation with Ahamefule Oluo for a live webcast in celebration of Juneteenth,

Presented by The King County Library System. This event is made possible with support from the King County Library System Foundation.

Ijeoma Oluo is a Seattle-based Writer, Speaker and Internet Yeller. Her work on social issues such as race and gender has been published in The Guardian, The Stranger, Washington Post, ELLE magazine, NBC News and more. Her NYT bestselling first book, So You Want to Talk About Race, was released January 2018 with Seal Press.

Ahamefule J. Oluo is a Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, writer, and stand-up comedian. He is a founding member and trumpet player in the award-winning jazz-punk quartet Industrial Revelation, was a semi-finalist in NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity comedy competition, and co-produced comedian (and writing partner) Hari Kondabolu’s albums Waiting for 2042 and Mainstream American Comic, for Kill Rock Stars. 

Oluo has appeared on This American Life and is a recipient of the prestigious Creative Capital Award as well as the Artist Trust Arts Innovators Award. 



Read more...

Local students graduate from Whitman College

Memorial Hall
Photo courtesy Whitman College


WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The following students received their Bachelor of Arts degrees from Whitman College on May 24, 2020. Graduates were honored in a virtual commencement ceremony this year.

Shoreline
  • Declan Andrews, Shorewood High School, Physics/Pre-Engineering
  • Yann Dardonville, The Bush School, Hispanic Studies, Politics, summa cum laude
  • Lily Gustafson, Shorewood High School, Economics, summa cum laude
  • Ellery Nelson, Shorewood High School, Psychology, cum laude
Lake Forest Park
  • Miranda LaFond, Shorecrest High School, History, Theatre, summa cum laude
North Seattle
  • Erin Cunningham, Nathan Hale High School, Music (Performance), Politics, cum laude
  • Anne Kopta, Ingraham High School, Psychology

Founded in 1882, Whitman College is a highly selective private, independent, co-educational, non-sectarian residential liberal arts and sciences undergraduate college located in Walla Walla, Washington.

The college is home to approximately 1,500 undergraduate students exploring 45 departmental majors that lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree.



Read more...

2018 expansion of the RADAR program to north end cities


From left: Bothell Police Sgt. John Rogers, LFP City Manager Phillip Hill, Bothell Police Chief Carol Cummings, LFP Police Chief Steve Sutton, Shoreline Police Chief Shawn Ledford, Shoreline Mayor Will Hall, King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, Bothell Master Police Officer Brett Bernard, Bothell City Manager Jennifer Phillips, Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris, Kenmore City Manager Rob Karlinsky, Shoreline City Manager Debbie Tarry, and Shoreline Superintendent of Schools Rebecca Miner.


Originally published MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

Adopted last week, King County’s 2019-20 biennial budget includes significant investment in North King County’s Response, Awareness, De-escalation and Referral (RADAR) program, which helps build a bridge between law enforcement and mental health services. (See previous article)

Councilmember Rod Dembowski worked to secure $780,000 to support this program and the collaboration between the cities of Shoreline, Bothell, Lake Forest Park, Kirkland, and Kenmore.

RADAR partners police officers with mental health professionals to help people in need who are experiencing a mental health crisis, suffering from substance abuse, or struggling with homelessness, and connect them to the proper services.

This pairing allows the mental health professional to identify a need for social services and gives the officer an alternative to sending a person to the emergency room or jail, improving outcomes for many individuals and reducing the burden on our healthcare and criminal justice systems.

Mental health professionals can quickly assess the need, and officers schedule follow-up and dedicate time for outreach. The program also provides officers with relevant information on high risk individuals suffering from mental illness prior to contact, to help police better attempt de-escalation and avoid misunderstandings.

Mental health professionals can also coordinate with schools to connect students and families to services, and integrate kids back into school, in cases where they have been affected by a person in crisis.

In its first year in Shoreline, RADAR program outreach has reduced repeat calls for service, and of the 147 contacts made, 83% of people accepted resources or assistance.

“The Shoreline Police Department has had success with RADAR in handling calls for service, where no force was used to de-escalate the situation, connect people to services and to gain trust with an individual and family members,” said Chief Shawn V. Ledford of the Shoreline Police Department. 
“Having access to a mental health professional and expanding this program is a partnership that’s working and would not have happened without the support of Councilmember Rod Dembowski.”


Read more...

Dembowski proposes key reforms for county law enforcement

County Councilmember
Rod Dembowski
King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, joined by King County Councilmembers Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Girmay Zahilay and Joe McDermott, introduced legislation at the county council meeting that would make the King County Sheriff an appointed position and grant subpoena power to the county’s Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO).
 
These two key reforms came as recommendations from the 2018-2019 King County Charter Review Commission’s final report aimed at increasing accountability and oversight in King County’s law enforcement and criminal justice system. 

“These are important reforms that can help improve our justice system. They have been thoroughly vetted and developed with public input over many months,” Dembowski said. “OLEO must have the power it needs to conduct its mission. A decade of opposition to its authority needs to end, and end now.”
 
The King County Council determines which Charter Review Commission recommendations to bring forward to the voters for their consideration. The introduction of the proposed ordinances brings the two recommendations forward to the County Council for consideration to place on the November General Election ballot.
 
The Charter Review Commission pointed to two major changes on why King County should return to an appointed Sheriff. Since moving to an elected model in 1996, the County has grown more diverse than ever, and with the shrinking of the unincorporated area, fewer voters are directly served by the Sheriff. 

In addition, the Commission cited:
  • Elections politicize an important law enforcement function
  • Appointment would provide increased accountability to residents and proportional representation 
  • Appointment provides flexibility when change is needed especially during the interim between election years 
  • Appointment avoids the internal strife that contested elections can cause
  • An appointed Sheriff is more accountable for performance and for complying with county ordinances and policies 

An Equity Committee whose members included Elizabeth Ford, Nikkita Oliver, Alejandra Tres, Rob Saka, and Marcos Martinez made up part of the Charter Review Commission.
 
“Especially in light of the recent officer involved killings and the movement of people for Black Lives across our region and the nation, we feel that any action to consider systemic changes in concerns to police accountability and transparency are critical to have before the council and ultimately before the voters,” those members of the Equity Committee said in a statement.
 
The Charter Review Commission report also concluded that “A decade is long enough to wait for effective civilian oversight.”
 
The County’s Office of Law Enforcement and Oversight was created in 2006 as an independent office within the legislative branch. Since its inception, OLEO’s powers have been hindered as the terms of civilian oversight are subject to collective bargaining, this has included the ability of OLEO to issue subpoenas. 

Subpoena power is the ability to require a party to turn over information. Without it, while OLEO can request information, it has no ability to require it. The Commission found that amending the Charter to include subpoena power would be a demonstration of the will of the people that the oversight office be empowered to gather the information it needs to be effective.
 
The County’s Charter is a guiding document that outlines how the County operates and delegates its powers. The Charter is updated every decade by a Charter Review Commission. The 20-member body met over 20 times, including 7 community meetings throughout King County between July 24, 2018 and January 23, 2020, and released its recommendations report in late 2019.
 
“Now more than ever are the proposals brought forward by the King County Charter Review Commission timely and necessary for oversight and reform of law enforcement,” said Kinnon Williams, King County Charter Review Commissioner.



Read more...

24 Hour Fitness to permanently close 130 gyms, including Shoreline

Monday, June 15, 2020

Terrace Station was under construction when this photo was taken
Photo courtesy Sierra Construction


According to a story in Business Insider, 24 Hour Fitness, hard hit by the pandemic shut down, is permanently closing 130 gyms across the country, including Shoreline.

The gym at 20202 Ballinger Way NE, Space A-10, Seattle, WA 98155 is currently located in Ballinger Village. 

They had leased space in the Terrace Station building which is under construction in Mountlake Terrace, next to where the Sound Transit Lynnwood Link stop will be. They were going to expand their facility to include a swimming pool. (see previous article)

 

Read more...

FOUND: Teenage autistic girl missing from Lake Forest Park

Ava is missing from LFP

UPDATE: FOUND: Ava was found after about 3 hours. 

LFP report that "Ava is back home -safe and sound. Thank everybody for helping us! We love our community!"

Original story:
Lake Forest Park Police report that about at 4:15pm on Monday, a female juvenile left her home in the Hillside area (17200 30th Ave NE) of Lake Forest Park.

Her name is Ava Henderson and she is 16yrs old. She is 5-06, 120lbs, with long black curly hair, and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a gray lightweight sweatshirt with an elephant on the front and jean shorts.

Ana is a high-functioning autistic, identified with no sense of direction. If you see her, contact 911.

911 is not necessarily functioning now for T-Mobile and some Verizon customers. Use a landline, text to 9-1-1 or call the dispatch centers:

Shoreline or Kenmore call 206-296-3311

Lake Forest Park call 425-486-1254



Read more...

Argument at 7-11 Friday leads to victim being shot

Photo from google


Sgt. Ryan Abbott of the King County Sheriff's Office has verified that a man was shot in the legs after an argument in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven on 15th NE in Shoreline.

The call came in at 11:42pm on Friday, June 12, 2020.

The victim is expected to make a full recovery. KCSO Major Crimes has identified a suspect already, but the case remains open/active.




Read more...

UPDATE: Back online: T-Mobile and some Verizon 911 service is down nationally and locally


UPDATE: Service restored at 10pm. See article.

Original article:

T-Mobile 911 service has apparently been down for hours in other parts of the country. Local notices started being published around 3:30pm.

Some Verizon customers are also affected. Some networks such as Ting, contract with T-Mobile and may also be down.

You may not be able to reach emergency services by calling 9-1-1

Do NOT test the system - you'll just jam the lines.

If you have an emergency, try calling 911 or texting 911.

If 911 doesn't work:
  • If you live in Shoreline or Kenmore call 206-296-3311. This goes to the dispatch center used by multiple jurisdictions.
  • If you live in Lake Forest Park call 425-486-1254. LFP and Shoreline use different dispatch services even though both are in King county.

According to statements from T-Mobile's CEO:
Teams continue to work as quickly as possible to fix the voice and messaging problems some are seeing. Data services are now available and some calls are completing. Alternate services like WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage, Facetime etc. are available. 
Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country. We’re sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly.


Read more...

Mourning dove walk

Photo by Wayne Pridemore



Wayne Pridemore said: "Early in the morning a Mourning Dove walked across our driveway towards the bird feeder"





Read more...

Case updates June 14, 2020

Washington state cases by county


United States

  • cases 2,063,812
  • deaths 115,271

Washington state

  • cases 25,834
  • hospitalizations 3,856
  • deaths 1,217

King county

  • cases 8751
  • hospitalizations 1520
  • deaths 574

Shoreline

  • cases 386
  • hospitalizations 87
  • deaths 57

Lake Forest Park

  • cases 33
  • hospitalizations 2
  • deaths 0




Read more...

Shoreline Police RADAR program for dealing with individuals with behavioral health issues

This article was originally published on March 30, 2017. In light of current events and discussions about policing in America, it seems pertinent to tell new SAN readers about this program. A second article about the expansion of the program will be published in the next edition. 



By Sam Tilford


One program in Shoreline is hoping to build relationships between the police department and the behavioral health community by providing training and one-on-one contact.

The Shoreline Police Department’s Response Awareness, De-escalation and Referral program, or RADAR, trains deputies to provide safe and effective responses when handling situations involving people with behavioral health problems.



Deputy Ben Emmons introduces the RADAR program while also offering advice to community members about their own encounters with people with behavioral health issues at a Richmond Beach Community Meeting on January 10.
Photo credit: Kimberly Hendrickson


RADAR is a complement to the mandatory eight hour crisis intervention training required by the state that helps reduce the use of force between police and individuals with behavioral issues and the repeated use of emergency services. Shoreline PD also offers an optional 40 hour CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) program, in which 25 percent of the department is required to participate.

This is in compliance with the Doug Ostling Act, which established requirements for CIT training statewide. Ostling, a mentally ill man, was shot and killed in his home by Bainbridge Island police officers in 2010. Responding officers did not know Ostling had severe mental illness when responding to his call for assistance, despite the fact that he had recent, previous contacts with Bainbridge police.

“Had officers known more about his BHI, or strategies that might have helped him in a crisis situation, deadly force would have been a less likely option,” RADAR Program Coordinator Kimberly Hendrickson said.

Encounters between officers and individuals with BHI occur on a regular basis. In 2015, Shoreline PD responded to over 500 incidences, according to research analyzing King County 911 call center data.

In a survey conducted by Shoreline PD, 86 percent of Shoreline deputies surveyed reported having either daily or frequent contact with people with BHI, and 75 percent of responding deputies were not satisfied with the options available to them for handling these kinds of calls.

“Police within Shoreline really just felt unprepared from an information standpoint,” Hendrickson said. “Behavioral health calls are very complex, RADAR really speaks to having more tools and information before responding to calls.”


The RADAR response plan lets deputies know, prior to arrival at a scene, that they will be encountering an individual with a behavioral issue. Deputies and a program navigator, who is professionally trained in mental health, work together with community members before crisis events occur. This allows deputies to gather de-escalation information, such as what calms down specific BHI community members.

For example, in a meeting with one BHI community member, RADAR representatives found that the individual loves sports and the best way to calm them down is to talk sports with them.

“Our goal is to really recognize that these people are in crisis and that their mental health is compromised,” Deputy Tim Meyer said. “We want to get them help, which usually means sourcing them into the right programs, and we want to do so without the use of force.”

People with a behavioral issue often have difficulty complying with instructions. As a result, many encounters between law enforcement officers and individuals with a behavioral issue involve force being applied or other kinds of physical contact, including being arrested or sent to jail.

The Washington Post estimates that 240 people with behavioral issues were shot and killed by police nationally in 2016. This represents around one in four of all fatal police shootings.

Between 2014 and 2015, there were 27 use of force incidents reported by Shoreline deputies. Around one-quarter of these incidents involved people with behavioral issues, according to data from the RADAR research team. This is a number Shoreline PD believes they can reduce going forward.

“At the heart of this program is the commitment to build stronger relationships with people in the community who are affected by BHI,” Hendrickson said. “Shoreline residents affected by BHI read stories in the news about police incidents that go badly. We want to ensure incidents like this never happen.”

Shoreline PD hopes to see the RADAR program in police departments statewide. Here Deputies Ben Emmons (left) and Tim Meyer speak at a Council of Neighborhoods meeting in January.
Photo credit: Kimberly Hendrickson


The other aspect of this is individuals with behavioral issues being taken to jail rather than medical facilities. Meyer gave a recent example of a man with behavioral issues who accidentally stopped a commuter train near Richmond Beach by wandering onto the tracks.

“In the old system we would have booked that person for trespassing,” Meyer said. “Now that we have this RADAR program we recognize he did not have criminal intent. His intent was not to mess up the train schedule, his intent was that he likes trains and wanted to be there.


Meyer suggests that rather than taking him to jail the better option is to take him to a medical facility to get him the help he needs.

“If the battery in your car goes dead and you go to a tire shop you haven’t really fixed anything,” Meyer said. “We need to get you to the right spot to fix whatever circumstance got you there.” 
Hear more from Deputy Meyer here 

Public stigma impacts how people with behavioral issues are treated in their communities. RADAR navigator Susie Kroll says part of the reason individuals with behavioral issues have not received proper treatment over the years is because of lasting stigmas. This includes withholding help, avoiding contact, forced treatment, and segregated institutions.

“There is a stigma that these are crazy people who hear voices and are going to go out and kill people and that is just not true,” Kroll continued. “Your family, your friends, your neighbors, the people you work with can all suffer from some sort of behavioral health issue.”

Kroll, who is also a Behavioral Health Clinic Manager, hopes the program will help erase stigmas surrounding BHI.

“People with behavioral health issues and mental health diagnoses have long been the subject of stereotypes,” Kroll said. “By building relationships within our communities, providing information and showing we are here to help, we believe we can really make a lasting impact.”

The RADAR program was funded through a Department of Justice grant and King County’s Mental Illness and Drug Dependency tax fund. Hendrickson says the it is self sustainable, and plans to run for many more years.

The program went into effect January 1 and will be evaluated by researchers at George Mason University and the Police Foundation in 2018. They will analyze data to determine if there is a decrease in use of force between police and individuals with behavioral issues and if individuals with behavioral issues are calling in less frequently.

For more information on the RADAR program, and to see if an outreach visit might be appropriate, contact Kimberly Hendrickson.

RADAR representatives still recommend calling 911 when involved in a situation with someone with a behavioral health issue that presents a threat to themselves or other people.



Read more...

King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht issues directive on use of chemical irritants for crowd control

King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht

The following statement is from King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht. Shoreline contracts with King County to provide its police department.

The Shoreline Police department serves the city of Shoreline and has the resources of the Sheriff's office for functions such as major crimes investigations. Kenmore is also a "contract city." 

Lake Forest Park has its own department, reporting to Mayor and City Council. It is in a coalition with other small departments to share resources and training exercises.

Sheriff Johanknecht is responding to a court ruling regarding the Seattle police department's use of "tear gas" during the first days of the protests in Seattle.


“Yesterday, the Western District of Washington issued an order with respect to crowd control and the use of chemical irritants.

"The court was asked to consider a ban on the use of chemical irritants as a less lethal tool by the Seattle Police Department. The court ruled as follows:
  • SPD may not use chemical irritants or projectiles against persons peacefully protesting or demonstrating
  • Individual officers may use reasonable, proportional and targeted action to protect against a specific threat of imminent physical harm to themselves or identifiable others or to respond to specific acts of violence or destruction of property
  • Tear gas may only be used if other efforts to subdue a threat with alternate crowd control measures have been exhausted and ineffective; AND
  • The Chief of Police has determined tear gas is the only reasonable alternative available.
  • Should the Chief find a basis exists to use tear gas, it must be directed at potentially life threatening activity and may not be deployed indiscriminately into a crowd.

"I appreciate the guidance from the court. I find this guidance consistent with my expectations of the women and men of the King County Sheriff’s Office. It is my hope that our agency will not find it necessary to even consider the use of chemical irritants or projectiles. If it is necessary, it will be under the circumstances outlined by the court and only initiated with my approval.

"Mitzi G. Johanknecht, Sheriff"



Read more...

Fence art: We Love LFP

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

A cheerful example of the spontaneous public art abounding during this pandemic, a new art installation has appeared on the fence at Lake Forest Park Elementary.

Easily visible from southbound Ballinger Way, this appears to be created with Solo® cups through the holes of the chain link fence.



Read more...

Evan Smith: Incumbent legislators start campaigns with big financial advantage

Evan Smith
Politics reporter

By Evan Smith

The four incumbent state legislators in the 32nd and 46th legislative districts have started their re-election campaign with big financial advantages over their challengers.

Each of the four Democratic incumbents has raised at least $20,000, according to Public Disclosure Commission reports, while only one of their six challengers has raised any money.

The leading fundraiser is incumbent 46th District Democratic State Rep. Javier Valdez. Valdez has reported raising $30,333 on top of $15,665 carried over from previous campaigns for a total of $45,998. He has reported spending $3,078.

His largest contributions have come from the Puyallup Indians, The Puget Sound Pilots Political Action Committee and The Washington Education Association. He will be opposed in both the Aug. 4 primary and Nov. 3 general election by Republican Beth Daranciang, a former public health researcher. Daranciang has reported no fundraising or campaign spending.

The other incumbent 46th District Democrat, State Rep. Gerry Pollet, has raised $20,283, with the biggest contribution coming from the Washington Education Association Political Action Committee. That goes with a campaign starting balance of $5,289 for a total of $25,572. He has spent $2,560. His Republican challenger, Eric J. Brown has reported raising $2,074 in contributions to his own campaign; that goes with loans to himself of $1,074, for a total of $3,148. He reports expenditures of $1,074. Both names will appear on the ballot in both the August primary and the November general election.

Partisan contests appear on the primary ballot even when there are only one or two candidates.

In the 32nd Legislative District, Democratic incumbent State Rep. Cindy Ryu has reported raising $20,500 to go with a $10,123 starting balance for a total of $30,623. She has spent $10,602. Ryu has contributions from several insurance companies, several labor unions and from several Indian tribes and casinos. She faces two fellow Democrats; neither has raised or spent any campaign money. One is Keith Smith, a member of the Snohomish County Children's Commission and Council on Aging, who used a “Centrist” party preference when he lost to Ryu and a Republican in the 2018 primary. The other is former Lynnwood City Councilwoman Shirley Sutton.

The other 32nd Legislative District incumbent, Democratic State Rep. Lauren Davis, has raised $20,894 to go with a carry-over balance of $24,764 for a total of $45,658. She has reported campaign expenditures of $31,391. Davis’ biggest donors are the Puyallup Tribe, the Washington Education Association PAC and the Service Employees International Union Local 775 Quality Care Committee. Her two challengers are Democrat Gray Petersen, the 32nd Legislative District delegate to the Snohomish County Democratic Central Committee, and non-partisan candidate Tamra Smilanich. Each reports no fundraising or campaign expenditures.

The 32nd Legislative District includes Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, Woodway, south Edmonds and nearby unincorporated areas of south Snohomish County, the city of Lynnwood and a small part of Mountlake Terrace.

The 46th District includes Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and northeast Seattle.

The top two candidates for each position in the primary qualify for the general-election ballot regardless of party preference.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.



Read more...

Missing Shoreline man found and is safe

Unc is home
Shoreline resident David "Unc" Williams was found around 2:30pm Sunday afternoon in a grocery store near his home.

He is back home and reported to be doing well.

Original story:

Missing person
"Unc" ran off from his home in Shoreline at 6am Saturday morning and did not return. He was wearing sweats and a light blue coat.

He is diabetic and has not had insulin since he was at home.

If you see him, call 9-1-1



Read more...

Here's lookin at you, kid

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Owl in the back yard
Photo by Tanis Coralee Leonhardi


The Leonhardi family's back yard is against a green belt. They already had a couple of crow's nests when this guy stopped by the yard.

The crows were very unhappy and screamed their displeasure all day long. None of them, however, body slammed him like the Lake Forest Park crow did. (Feathers fly)

It's the second day and the owl is still there and has been joined by another owl. So far they have resisted getting a photo together.

--Diane Hettrick



Read more...

Case updates June 13, 2020

Washington state deaths 
Fewer people are going to the ER or visiting doctors due to COVID-19 concerns.

The U.S. HHS encourages people not to choose between medical care and social distancing and to make use of telemedicine.

If you have a health concern, don’t ignore it.

Call a doctor to see if they’re offering telemedicine.

Learn more about what is possible with medicine services at: telehealth.hhs.gov

Case updates June 13, 2020

United States
  • 2,038,344 cases
  • 114,625 deaths
Washington state
  • 25,538 cases
  • 3,845 hospitalizations
  • 1,213 deaths
King county
  • 8,700 cases
  • 1,518 hospitalizations
  • 574 deaths
Shoreline
  • 384 cases
  • 87 hospitalizations
  • 57 deaths
Lake Forest Park
  • 33 cases
  • 2 hospitalizations
  • 0 deaths 



Read more...

FOUND: Missing person

Missing from Shoreline

UPDATE: 'Unc" David was found around 4pm, reportedly at a grocery store near his home.


Original story:

"Unc" ran off from his home in Shoreline at 6am Saturday morning and did not return. He was wearing sweats and a light blue coat.

He is diabetic and has not had insulin since he was at home.

If you see him, call 9-1-1




Read more...

Flag Day



Although there is some controversy regarding the actual designer/maker of the first U.S. flag - - - the first flag is referred to as the Betsy Ross Flag (and/or Continental Colors).




Read more...

Get the "411 on the 522" Thursday

Saturday, June 13, 2020



The Bothell Library is hosting an online program with Sound Transit about Sound Transit's plans and upcoming work on State Route 522 in Bothell, Kenmore and Lake Forest Park.

"The 411 on 522", next Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 3pm, will discuss planning and changes to lanes on SR 522 / Bothell Way.

Anyone can ask questions ahead of time even if they don't want to join the program live.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes will ultimately be eight miles long and include 13 stations. 

What will this mean for residents, businesses and commuters along SR 522? Join Paul Cornish, Sound Transit's Director of Bus Rapid Transit in an online webinar to learn more.

Your questions are welcome in advance, so please share them even if you can't attend the webinar. Post questions at IdeaBoardz or directly to the speaker at paul.cornish@soundtransit.org

You may join the meeting starting at 2:50pm. The link is HERE  This is a 'listen only' presentation.

Event number (access code): 133 035 9615
Event password: this event does not require a password.

If you need help, detailed instructions are HERE



Read more...

Shoreline PTA Council presents scholarship awards

Elliott Guy, Shorecrest
PTA Council scholarship winner

Congratulations to Tesfa Shenkute from Shorewood High School and Elliott Guy from Shorecrest High School.

Each received a $500 scholarship award from Shoreline PTA Council to support their post-high school studies. 

The scholarship fund was created when the former Shoreline High School (now the Shoreline Center) closed to make way for the two current high schools.

The Shoreline PTA gave their money to Council to be awarded to a graduating senior from each high school every spring.

Thanks to Suzanne Monson and Marianne Stephens, the Career and College Readiness Coordinators at Shorecrest and Shorewood High Schools for their support and assistance. 


Tesfa Shenkute, Shorewood
PTA Council scholarship winner
Mea Fischelis served as Council's Scholarship Chair.

Tesfa will be attending UW Bothell to study computer science and software engineering.

Elliott Guy will be headed to Western Washington University to study marine biology.



Read more...

June Art Walk Edmonds canceled

The Art Walk Edmonds Board has canceled the June 18th Art Walk.

The event is normally is held monthly on the Third Thursday from 5 to 8pm when galleries, merchants, neighbors and friends join in celebrating the arts and cultivating local vitality by hosting local artists, demos, food and music.

The board noted that many of the downtown merchants are just starting to get back to business, with varying limitations on building capacity.

We are looking ahead to July 16th to see how we can safely and responsibly hold our beloved Art Walk again.




Read more...

I knew I shoulda worn my sweater for this portrait shoot,

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler


thought Wanda, shivering, but photog wanted me au naturel. That's the last time I listen to her!

--Gloria Z Nagler



Read more...

Third Place Books takes author events online

Third Place Books has taken their acclaimed author events program online, so that you can enjoy talks with your favorite authors... from a safe and healthy distance!


Click to register for these upcoming livestream author events, presented by Third Place Books!

See the full events calendar here!


Monday, June 15, 7pm
Erica Bauermeister
House Lessons

In this mesmerizing memoir-in-essays, bestselling author Erica Bauermeister (The Scent Keeper) renovates a trash-filled house in eccentric Port Townsend, and in the process takes readers on a journey to discover the ways our spaces subliminally affect us.

Bauermeister will be joined in conversation by Tara Conklin, bestselling author of The Last Romantics.



Wednesday, June 17, 7pm
Harlan Coben
The Boy from the Woods
Jake Tapper
The Hellfire Club
Join the event here

In The Boy From The Woods, Harlan Coben introduces us to Wilde, a man who is a mystery to everyone, including himself. Decades ago, Wilde was found as a boy living feral in the woods with no memory of his past. Now, thirty years later, he’s a highly trained ex-military operative who still knows nothing about his personal history.  And he's back living in the same woods on the outskirts of town, content to be an outcast with only a few deep connections to other people.

A young Congressman stumbles on the powerful political underworld of 1950's D.C. in The Hellfire Club. Charlie Marder is an unlikely Congressman. Thrust into office by his family ties after his predecessor died mysteriously, Charlie is struggling to navigate the dangerous waters of 1950s Washington, DC, alongside his young wife Margaret, a zoologist with ambitions of her own. When Charlie discovers a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of governance, he has to fight not only for his principles and his newfound political career... but for his life.


Thursday, June 18, 7pm
Michael Connelly
Fair Warning

TICKETS REQUIRED each ticket includes a copy of the book

Join Michael Connelly in conversation with Andrea Dunlop, author of We Came Here To Forget!

Veteran reporter Jack McEvoy has taken down killers before, but when a woman he had a one-night stand with is murdered in a particularly brutal way, McEvoy realizes he might be facing a criminal mind unlike any he's ever encountered.

Jack investigates-- against the warnings of the police and his own editor-- and makes a shocking discovery that connects the crime to other mysterious deaths across the country. Undetected by law enforcement, a vicious killer has been hunting women, using genetic data to select and stalk his targets. Uncovering the murkiest corners of the dark web, Jack races to find and protect the last source who can lead him to his quarry. But the killer has already chosen his next target, and he's ready to strike.



Read more...

U.S. Justice Department files statement in support of Pierce county church suing the state over restrictions on religious gatherings

Gov. Inslee is being sued over state
restrictions on church gatherings during
COVID-19 measures

By Jamie Holter

The U.S. Justice Department this week filed a statement in support of Harborview Fellowship, a Pierce County Church, that is suing the State of Washington over COVID-19 restrictions for religious gatherings.

They argue the restrictions are unconstitutional. The First Amendment guarantees everyone the right to practice his or her own religion or no religion at all. The church claims the limits are a Civil Rights Violation.

Currently, Washington permits indoor religious gatherings of no more than 50 people or a 25% capacity cap, whichever is lower. Outdoor services are limited to 100 people.

Harborview Fellowship argues the Inslee Administration is preventing the others who want to show up but can’t from practicing their religion. But there’s a catch.

While the First Amendment allows for the free exercise of religion, it must be done in a way that follows the dictates of their conscience in a manner that respects others and the public health and safety. And that’s the issue – public health and safety.

The U.S. Department of Justice argues a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision involving a California church that sued California Governor Gavin Newsom (South County United Pentecostal V. Newsom) laid the groundwork for the Pierce County church’s case against Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

SCOTUS Decision

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a surprising 5-4 decision, supported the Newsom Administration. South County United Pentecostal argued that church services were just like grocery stores and banks and other establishments deemed necessary. Freedom to worship in the time of COVID, is necessary, they argued. And so did Attorney General William Barr’s U.S. Attorneys in Western Washington.

Chief Justice John Roberts, siding with the traditionally more liberal Justices, disagreed saying grocery stores were transitory establishments where people come and go. Churches, however, were places where people sat and congregated.

This week, the Department of Justice argued that places of worship, then, should have the same limits as restaurants which is 50 percent capacity and no limit to the number of people inside. AND - outdoor services should have no limits as long as people are practicing safe social distancing with masks. Exhibit A? According to Attorney General Bill Barr - all the Black Lives Matter protests.



Read more...

WeatherWatcher: Special Weather Statement issued for strong storm Saturday night

University of Washington Department of Atmospheric Science
Storm cell circled in red


The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a special weather statement for the Seattle, Everett and East Puget Sound vicinity which includes Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. The special weather statement is in effect until 9:25pm Saturday evening.

As seen in the above color-visible satellite image taken at 8:46pm, a large storm cell has formed over the North King county and South Snohomish county area. Though no lightning has been detected in this cell, the National Weather Service is calling this a line of thunderstorms. Heavy downpours are expected, along with pea sized hail, and winds gusting up to 30mph.

The main impacts which have already occurred and are expected to continue are small areas of localized flooding on area roadways. The statement also says "do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways." The storm is slowly moving east at about 5mph and is expected to move out of the area and dissipate over the next 30-45 minutes.


For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com




Read more...

One car rollover early Thursday morning

Photo courtesy KCSO


On June 11, 2020 around 2:50am, Shoreline Police were dispatched to a rollover collision in the 1000 block of NW 167 St. The caller reported that a male was running from the vehicle.

As deputies arrived on scene they found the male running through a nearby wooded area in an attempt to escape. The man was detained and admitted, after being read his rights, that he had crashed his car and was scared so he was trying to run home.

The strong odor of intoxicants were coming from his breath. The driver agreed to do some voluntary field sobriety tests, which he failed. Deputies arrested him at the scene for DUI.

The suspect later provided a breath sample, which returned almost twice the legal limit.



Read more...

Make some noise for our graduating seniors

Graphic courtesy City of Shoreline
Hello Shoreline Community!

Because the Class of 2020 will not be having their traditional graduation ceremony on June 14, we would like to celebrate their big accomplishment by making as much noise as possible around the community on that night, Sunday at 8:20pm—20:20 in military time!

This will be a joint celebration for both Shorewood and Shorecrest Seniors, so let’s get all of Shoreline to hear it!”

--Brit Harris



Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP